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PHOTOS BY JOHN LARSON

CROWDED HOUSES. Design standards of townhouses near Tacoma Mall have generated concerns among Tacoma City Council members. Among them are driveways so small that parked cars rest on the sidewalk and no requirements for yards.

City puts halt to tax breaks for townhouses

By John Larson

By an 8-0 vote, Tacoma City Council passed an ordinance June 24 suspending tax breaks for townhouse projects near Tacoma Mall through the end of the year. The tax break is a property-tax exemption for eight or 12 years, depending on whether some units in a project qualify as affordable housing. It has been a popular tool in enticing developers to build within certain areas of the city. The council’s action applies to all multi-family projects in what is designated as the Tacoma Mall Mixed-Use Center. It does not affect projects that have already been approved, but it does impact proposed projects that had not yet been granted the tax incentive.

Several council members have expressed concern recently about design standards for townhouses near the mall.

Last week Peter Huffman from the city’s Planning Division and Charlie Solverson from the Building and Land Use Services Division of the Public Works Department discussed such concerns with council members.

One major concern, Huffman said, is that zero lot lines are allowed, which means the projects are not required to have yards. One proposed requirement would be a minimum of 200 square feet for yards. Another is a minimum setback, perhaps five to 10 feet, for front yards.

Another concern is that many have the garages pointing toward the street. Some have driveways so short that parked cars are on the sidewalks, which goes against a city goal of having a pedestrian friendly feel in the mixed-use center. A proposed design change is that garages face toward the alley.

Solverson said in alleys around some of the townhouses, truck drivers picking up garbage or recycling have difficulty maneuvering through the tight spaces.

Huffman said for some people who live in townhouses, their affordability overrides any deficiencies in design standards. “There are some people who are okay with not having a yard.”

John Alexander, a representative of Master Builders Association of Tacoma/Pierce County, has been following the issue closely. He said developers have some concerns about proposed changes but do see some good coming out of the process. “We are confident in the work that is being done here,” he told council members.

Prior to voting, Councilmember Mike Lonergan explained why he supports the ordinance. He said 608 multi-family housing units have been built near the mall since the tax break was created. There are requests to build another 74 this year. Lonergan said city officials need time to assess the rapid growth in this section of Tacoma, especially the influx of townhouses. “We all want to take a breather and look at the development in this area,” he remarked.

Tacoma Planning Commission will vote July 2 on setting a public hearing on the proposed changes. That hearing is expected to be Aug. 16. The matter will be on a council study session, tentatively Sept. 23. The council is expected to vote on the changes in October.

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